For more than a week now, French Guiana
has been in turmoil. The population is protesting
against the skyrocketing price of gas by blocking roads, closing schools, and businesses. The
cost of gas is currently €1,77 per liter (US$ 2,25), in contrast to the price
of oil, which has been going as low as US$ 50,00 per barrel in the past weeks. The French
Guianese blogosphere echoes this massive mobilization.
In a post on November 28, Le Blog
Guyane [fr] explained the economic, political and social interests at stake, which
justify this great popular and political rallying.
“Déjà que la vie est chère ici, mais avec l'essence à 1,77
euros ça devient plus gérable pour beaucoup de gens. Du coup blocage total des
transports, voiture, avion, déchargement des bateaux. Petit probleme, certains bleds
isolés dépendent de l'essence pour l' électricité, la filtration de
l'eau étant électrique, plus d'eau potable en début de semaine prochaine (le
fleuve est pollué au mercure des chercheurs d' or), plus d'électricté pour
les dispensaires, etc….. “
First the cost of living is expensive here, but with 1,77 euros per liter of gas, life becomes
very hard for some people. So the roads, the Rochambeau airport and the discharging of the cargo
ships are blocked. The problem is that some very remote places depend on gas for electricity, for
water filtration which means no more drinking water at the beginning of the next week (the river
water has been polluted as a consequence of gold washing with mercury) and no more electricity for
the community clinic, …”
He also focuses on the fact that this great general blackout has largely not been covered by
international media, although the problem has aroused a rarely-seen-before commitment from the
Guyanese population and politicians to act.
“Eh oui, des barrages partout, plus d'écoles ni de magasins ouverts,plus d'essence,
il reste l' hopital et la police….. Bon vu qu' apparement la Guyane n' interesse pas trop
les médias ni notre cher président, ni même beaucoup le secrétaire d'
etat à l' outre mer…”
Well, there are roadblocks everywhere, schools and shops are closed down, there is no more gas
and only the hospital and the police station are still in function….It seems that the medias,
our dear President Sarkozy and the Overseas Departments Minister Jego are not much interested in
French Guiana…”
A post on the blog Dom et Steph en
Guyane [fr] highlights the necessity for the population and the authorities to start a
great debate on the question of greener energies.
“Espérons aussi qu'un débat de fond sur les alternatives à la
consommation de pétrole soit initié.”
“Let's hope that this situation will trigger a serious debate concerning the alternatives
to the use of gas in French Guiana.”
Category: Lifestyle
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